Scottish CAB Service

Our History

The first bureau in Scotland was established in 1939 as a Wartime Information Service.

The CAB Service has changed a lot since that time, reflecting widespread changes in society as a whole. It has had to adapt to meet new needs and to widen its information base. However, many of the main issues facing CAB clients are similar to those that people faced in the early years of the service – such as housing, employment and benefits.

Where we are now

Today the Scottish CAB Service forms the country’s largest independent advice network. It is made up of a network of around 80 bureau offices offering over 260 service points throughout Scotland.

Across Scotland, bureaux offer advice inside sheriff courts, GP clinics and hospitals, tribunals, schools and colleges, even people’s homes. Every bureau is an independent, locally-run charity and is normally funded by their local authority.

Over the years the service has helped an ever-increasing number of people with an ever-increasing number of issues. The CAB Service has expanded the range of information and advice it provides in order to inform people about all their rights and responsibilites. In addition, it tries to influence policies and practices at a larger level to help prevent problems arising in the first place.

Scottish CAB Service Aims

The Scottish CAB Service aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face to:

ensure that individuals do not suffer through not knowing about their rights and responsibilites and the services that are available; or through an inability to express their needs

improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives, both locally and nationally.